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Classic Hummus

Classic hummus bi tahini recipe with mellowed garlic, sesame paste and chick-peas.  A favorite Middle-Eastern spread served as a dip with pita bread.

Hummus in serving bowl drizzled with olive oil.

I first made hummus years ago when we lived in Chicago.  Meathead raved about the hummus at an Armenian restaurant he often went to for lunch, Sayat Nova.  I came across a classic hummus recipe in one of my cookbooks and decided to try making it.  I thought it was really good but my husband didn't think it was that great, not like Sayat Nova's.

He said theirs comes drizzled with really good olive oil and the Armenian flatbread, lavosh, was the best.  So I liked what I made, but no one really ate it but me.  I eventually stopped making it.  This was the early 90's, hummus was not in the stores and few people I knew made it or even ate it.

Hummus in white serving bowl

Have you seen all the hummus in the grocery stores now?  My stores have huge sections with all kinds of variations and brands.  I started buying it and I was the only one eating it again.  Then my kids told me they liked hummus, but only the homemade kind.

And I had the Vegetarian in residence.  It was time to ditch the store bought stuff and make it from scratch.  It's simple and much better.  This is a traditional hummus that I updated a bit.

Three photo collage of process Of mellowing garlic and pureeing chickpeas.

Hummus is basically chick peas, tahini, garlic, olive oil and lemon.  A little cumin and salt.  That's it.  I like garlic but find raw garlic to be too strong so I cook sliced garlic in olive oil to mellow it.  And it flavors the olive oil that goes into the hummus.

Along with the cumin I add a little smoked paprika.  This is really good stuff.  For lunch today, I had a piece of whole grain toast slathered with this hummus and topped with in season tomatoes.  A little sea salt and I was loving my lunch.

A note about the chickpeas.  I use canned and find the brand makes a difference.  I have tried a store brand and the garbanzos were small and hard.  I like S & W brand.  They are plump, tender and creamy.  Use a quality brand of chickpeas, unless of course, you want to make from dried ones.  No thanks.

Meathead likes this hummus, although he still thinks Sayat Nova's is the best.  I'm glad because it is much healthier for him, even if he somehow adds some meat to it.  Enjoy, Kelly🍴🐦

Hummus in white bowl with pita bread.

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UPDATED: March 16, 2019: no changes to original recipe, just spiffed things up a bit.

Hummus in serving bowl drizzled with olive oil.

Classic Hummus

Traditional hummus bi tahini recipe with mellowed garlic.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Middle-Eastern
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 64kcal

Ingredients

  • cup olive oil more for drizzling
  • 4 large cloves of garlic thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup tahini
  • Juice of 1 - 2 lemons or more to taste
  • 2 cans garbanzo beans drained and rinsed, loose skins picked out  (I like S & W brand)
  • ¼ cup warm water
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  • In a small sauce pan, put ⅓ cup olive oil and toss in the sliced garlic.  Heat over medium heat to soften and mellow the garlic, about 3 minutes from when it starts to sizzle.  Watch carefully, don't brown it or worse, burn it. Remove from heat and cool completely.
  • Drain and rinse the chickpeas and put in a food processor, picking out any loose skins.  Fish out the garlic and also add to the chickpeas.  Puree until smooth, scraping down as needed.
  • With the machine running, slowly add the tahini, juice of one lemon and the ⅓ cup of olive oil you cooked the garlic in.  Then add ¼ cup warm water.
  • Add the cumin and smoked paprika, process.  Season with salt and more lemon, at least another half lemon.
  • Taste and adjust any seasonings.  Spread in a serving dish or plate.  Drizzle with good olive oil and chopped parsley.  If desired, dust with a little smoked paprika or Everything Bagel seasoning.  Serve with pita bread or crackers.

Recipe Notes

A note about the chickpeas.  I use canned and find the brand makes a difference.  I have tried a store brand and the garbanzos were small and hard.  I like S & W brand.  They are plump, tender and creamy.  Use a quality brand of chickpeas, unless of course, you want to make from dried ones. 

Nutrition

Calories: 64kcal Carbohydrates: 1g Protein: 1g Fat: 7g Saturated Fat: 1g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 4g Sodium: 2mg Potassium: 24mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 1g Vitamin A: 35IU Vitamin C: 1mg Calcium: 8mg Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe? Please comment, rate it and share! And mention me on Instagram @thehungrybluebird or tag #thehungrybluebird so I can see!

 

Recipe Rating




Meathead

Monday 18th of March 2019

Hummus a song about mellowed garlic, sesame paste and chick-peas.

Johan Bornman

Saturday 5th of December 2015

looks delicious,going to try this in the morning,love hummus

Kelly

Monday 4th of January 2016

Hope you like it.

PB&G

Monday 2nd of November 2015

This is the best hummus ever. I won't even buy hummus from a store. I bought a food processor just so I could make it.

Always Hungry

Friday 25th of September 2015

I can't believe you didn't mention me AT ALL when you know how much I love hummus.

Kelly

Friday 25th of September 2015

I'm about to post my lasagna and it's all about you.